15 Beauty World food gems to explore

Foodies, hikers and residents alike would know that Beauty World is a treasure trove of delicious food haunts.

If nearby destinations like Rail Corridor, Rifle Range Nature Park and Bukit Timah Hill are the places to challenge yourself, then Beauty World is the base camp for hikers to refuel and treat themselves after a morning hike.

In this vibrant enclave, discover the delights of Bosong Rice Cake, a taste of Korea at Pink Candy Korean restaurant, the comforting flavours of Five Star Chicken Rice, and the authentic Japanese experience at Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant. 

We bring you our pick of 15 Beauty World food gems to refuel at.

1. Top 1 Home Made Noodle

Beauty World Food Centre, 04-44,144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Tuesday (11am to 6.30pm), Thursday to Sunday (11am to 6.30pm)

Why visit? You’ll be able to instantly spot this beloved Beauty World ban mian stall from the snaking queues. Founded in 1989, Top 1 Home Made Noodle has consistently churned out great handmade noodles with various soups and sides.

You can even customise every single aspect of your dish — from the type of noodle to the type of soup (mala, tom yum soup or no soup) and the type of ingredients. It also serves up surprisingly fancy accompaniments like clam, abalone, salmon, and fish maw.

Prices start at S$4.50 for a bowl of ban mian with soup, with additional toppings costing up to S$8.

Crowd favourites: When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with the classic dry ban mian (S$5), a flavourful concoction of springy al dente noodles, well-marinated pork balls, minced pork, ikan billis, braised mushrooms, and a pinch of greens. Be warned about the chilli, though; it’s been known to be explosively spicy.

2. Bosong Rice Cake

Beauty World Plaza, 02-04, 140 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Thursday to Saturday (11.30am to 7pm)

Why visit? This unassuming takeaway shop is run by a friendly Korean ajumma, who makes a myriad of handmade traditional Korean tteok (rice cakes) with innovative fillings and flavours. By dropping by Bosong Rice Cake, you can get a sweet taste of Korea without flying all the way there — prices are also affordable, with many items starting at S$5 per box.

Unlike the savoury and spicy Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki), the sweet rice cakes, which remind us of mochi or ang ku kueh, are much harder to track down in Singapore. They also come in various pastel colours and pretty shapes, making them perfect for gifting. 

Crowd favourites: Among the Korean rice cakes at Beauty World, our favourite is the mujigaetteok (rainbow rice cakes, S$5) because of its colourful aesthetic. The tteok comes in four colours — green (mugwort), brown and purple (cinnamon) and white (plain). The ggottteok (flower rice cakes, S$5) are the prettiest, with a flower on the cake itself and a slightly sweet filling of kidney bean paste.

3. Ye Tang Chendol

Beauty World Centre, 04-26, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Wednesday to Sunday (11am to 8.45pm)

Why visit? Beat the heat with shaved ice treats at this Beauty World dessert joint. You’ll find delicious Penang-style chendol at Ye Tang Chendol, which doesn’t skimp on quality ingredients. Only freshly squeezed, premium-grade coconut milk is used, along with pure gula melaka specially brought in from Malacca.

The green chendol is also house-made with pandan leaves and free from artificial extracts or flavourings. Order a refreshing bowl starting at S$2.20.

Crowd favourites: Opt for the classic bowl (S$2.20), which comes with red kidney beans that are slow-cooked for hours until soft. Alternatively, the creamy corn chendol (S$2.70), durian chendol (S$4) and Indulgence chendol (S$5.80) are stand-outs, too.

4.  Mongkok Dim Sum  

8 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to midnight)

Why visit? Located a short walk away from the MRT station, along the famous stretch of eateries along Cheong Chin Nam Road, Mongkok Dim Sum at Beauty World is a popular haunt for its wide variety of dim sum and zi char dishes.

Treat yourself to a delectable spread from the likes of fluffy custard buns and scallop dumplings, to savoury and salty spinach dumplings, drunken prawns and more. You can expect to spend about S$15 per person here for a sizable spread. 

Crowd favourites: Its house-special prawn dumpling (S$6.50) straddles a nice balance between being soft and yet crunchy in texture. Another favourite is the Geylang Lor 9 beef hor fun (S$7.50) infused with an intense umami and smoky wok hei flavour.

 5. Victory Boat Noodle Cafe

Beauty World Centre, 01-09, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.30am to 3pm, 4pm to 8.30pm)

Why visit? Located on the ground floor of Beauty World Centre, this humble Thai eatery’s signature boat noodles have earned rave reviews for its light yet flavourful beef broth, firm rice noodles, tender beef slices, and chewy beef balls. 

Victory Boat also serves various dishes, from basil rice and papaya sala, to moo ping (grilled pork skewers) with homemade dipping sauce. A good budget to set aside per person for a decent Thai meal is around S$10 to S$15.

Crowd favourites: Rainy days call for a piping hot bowl of its signature beef boat noodles (S$8.30).

6. Pink Candy Korean Restaurant  

Beauty World Centre, 04-60, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday and Wednesday to Sunday (10.30am to 2.30pm, 5pm to 9.30pm), Tuesday (5pm to 9.30pm)

Why visit? Hidden on the fourth floor of Beauty World Centre, this Korean cuisine gem dishes up affordable yet authentic fare — in addition to great rooftop views from its al fresco dining area. 

Unsurprisingly, Pink Candy’s homemade kimchi takes centre stage, with varieties like cucumber, green onion, cabbage, apple, and radish kimchi. It’s crunchy, fresh and much tastier than supermarket ones!

Crowd favourites: Try their best-selling apple kimchi (S$8 for 500g) and their hearty army stew (S$22.90).

7. Big Boys Western (Steakhouse)

Beauty World Food Centre, 04-25, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (11.45am to 8.45pm)

Why visit? Big Boys Western (Steakhouse) is a western food favourite at Beauty World’sa hawker centre, helmed by a former chef-turned-hawker. It churns out generous portions of mentaiko salmon pasta (SS$13.40), signature cornflake chicken (S$10.40), Australian sirloin grass-fed steak (SS$16.40), classic battered fish (S$10.40), and more. It’s also been widely featured in local publications, with positive reviews for its quality and unique variations.

Considering its sizable portions, you can easily have your fill for under S$20.

Crowd favourites: Tuck into its generously sized signature cornflake chicken that boasts a beautifully crispy skin and tender meat beneath.

8. Al-Azhar Restaurant 

11 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 2am)

Why visit? This popular Beauty World halal eatery needs no introduction. Spanning Indian, Thai and western dishes, this late-night supper haunt’s extensive menu offers something for everyone.

Try Al-Azhar’s lamb shank briyani (S$14.90), roti john chicken cheese (S$7.10) and sizzling chicken chop (S$12.80). For the variety that’ll spoil you here, you can easily keep your wallet happy on a budget.

Crowd favourites: Its smoky tandoori chicken (S$6.40) is hard to beat, while its fish biryani (S$7) is infused with a complex layering of spices, accompanied by tender fish. 

9. Eng Kee Chicken Wings

Beauty World Centre, 04-46, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Tuesday to Friday (9am to 4pm), Saturday and Sunday (8am to 3pm)

Why visit? Forget about counting calories and dig into sinful deliciousness at Eng Kee Chicken Wings. Fried to a golden brown, its famed chicken wings are delightfully crispy, while the succulent chicken meat remains juicy on the inside. You can go ham with a dozen wings or just order one for a quick snack — we promise not to judge. 

Crowd favourites: Pair your chicken wings (S$1.80 per piece) with bee hoon (S$1.20) — a classic combination.

10. Beauty World Wanton Noodle

Beauty World Centre, 04-18, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10.30am to 9pm)

Why visit? Despite its nondescript-sounding name, this Beauty World wanton mee stall serves up a solid fare. You can easily get away with a quick meal starting at just S$4 a bowl here.

Crowd favourites: Apart from Beauty World Wanton Noodle’s classic wanton noodle dry (S$5.80), other choices include the two treasure noodle dry (S$4/S$5) with fried and soup wontons and the stuffed meatball noodle ($6.50).

11. Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen

7 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Open: Monday to Sunday (10.30am to midnight)

Why visit? Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen has perfected its wholesome offerings over many decades, with several outlets across Singapore. With less fat and rich in flavour, the free-range kampong chicken is cooked in the traditional Hainanese style and served with house-made chilli and ginger sauces.

This Beauty World chicken rice stall also serves up various other zi char dishes.

Crowd favourites: The Five Star kampung chicken (S$4.80) is succulent and aromatic, while the Hometown tofu (S$8) is house-made with fresh soy milk. Encased within its crisp exterior is silky, smooth tofu drenched in a savoury minced meat sauce.

12. Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant

104 Jalan Jurong Kechil
Open: Tuesday to Saturday (12pm to 2.15pm, 5.30pm to 9.15pm)

Why visit? This cosy hole-in-the-wall eatery may be slightly off the beaten track, but that’s what makes it extra rewarding. It serves up one of the most authentic okonomiyaki in Singapore.

The okonomiyaki combo (starting at S$18) at Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant is a value-for-money option with ingredient selections across seafood, meat, dairy, and vegetables. Once you choose your ingredients, mix them in a big bowl and fry the pancakes yourself on the grill with spatulas until they’re crispy and golden brown. Go wild by dousing it liberally with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and toppings such as bonito flakes.

Crowd favourites: Order the scallop mentai (four pieces for S$21.50) as an umami-rich, creamy complement to your meal.

13. Buta Kin 

Beauty World Centre, 04-28, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11am to 9pm), Saturday and Sunday (10.30am to 9pm)

Why visit? Imagine our glee when we stumbled upon Buta Kin, a tiny stall serving restaurant-quality ramen, udon and Japanese curry dishes for truly affordable prices. The ramen bowls also come in generous portions and flavourful broths.  

Crowd favourites: The special tonkotsu ramen (S$9.90) is filled to the brim with thick slices of beautifully tender chashu, vegetables, bonito flakes, and a perfectly half-boiled egg doused in shoyu sauce.

14. He Zhong Carrot Cake  

Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre, 02-185, Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Saturday (6am to 8.30pm), Wednesday (6am to 1pm)

Why visit? You do not often find a carrot cake stall that only specialises in white carrot cake, but you’ll soon understand why this place does — and it does it well, indeed. At this decades-old family-run stall, He Zhong Carrot Cake serves up generous portions of unusually chunky slabs of carrot cake with tangy chilli sauce — these are truly one-of-a-kind.

At less than S$5 per plate, this stall easily satisfies both a lean budget and a hungry belly.

Crowd favourites: The springy carrot cake (S$3) is packed with flavour, with plenty of garlic, egg and fish sauce.

15.  Chirashi-Ai Cafe

Beauty World Centre, 01-17, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Open: Monday to Friday (11.30am to 8.30pm), Saturday and Sunday (9.30am to 8.30pm)

Why visit? From the freshest bowls of chirashi don, salmon mentai, waffles, and coffee, this quaint little nook, Chirashi-Ai at Beauty World, is a haven for hungry hikers looking for a wholesome, healthy post-hike meal.

Crowd favourites: We recommend the mentai aburi chirashi don (S$17), comprising  creamy mentaiko and mixed sashimi torched on Japonica sushi rice.

Hungry for more? Check out our latest reviews on the hottest new spots in town — Chicco Pasta Bar at Telok Ayer and Hana Restaurant, a well-loved Japanese restaurant that’s brought in a new twist. 

Ye Tang Chendol, Mongkok Dim Sum, Pink Candy, Big Boys Western, Al-Azhar, Beauty World Wanton Noodles, Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice, Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant, Buta Kin, and Chirashi-Ai Cafe are on the GrabFood are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.

Alternatively, book a ride to these Beauty World food gems.